Her Story
About Jackie
Jackie Buford is a risk management professional with more than a decade of experience spanning workers’ compensation, occupational health and safety, claims management, and emergency medical services. She currently serves as a Workers Compensation Analyst at AmeriPro Health, where she manages the full lifecycle of workers’ compensation claims, coordinates with employees, managers, insurance carriers, medical providers, and other stakeholders, and supports safe and timely return-to-work outcomes. Her career has included progressively responsible roles with Woodgrain, Serta Simmons Bedding, ABB Installation Products, and Williams-Sonoma, where she developed extensive expertise in claims operations, workplace safety, regulatory compliance, risk analysis, and loss prevention. Buford's professional foundation combines healthcare and safety experience with business, technology, analytics, and process improvement. She holds a degree in Computer Programming from Northeast Community College and a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Mississippi University for Women. Her professional development includes Data Analytics 360 from Cornell University, AutoCAD certification from Jackson State Community College, Advanced Safety Certification from the National Safety Council, OSHA 511 certification from the University of Tennessee, Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification, and RCRA Hazardous Waste Management Training Certification. This diverse background allows her to approach risk management from both an analytical and human-centered perspective, particularly when supporting employees navigating workplace injuries and complex claims. Throughout her career, she has remained committed to service, continuous learning, and treated people with dignity and respect. Her transition from health and safety and eventually risk management reflects her ability to transfer knowledge across disciplines while continually expanding her expertise. She believes challenges and setbacks can become valuable learning experiences and encourages women entering risk management to believe in themselves, work hard, continue learning, examine problems comprehensively, and have confidence in their voices. Beyond her professional responsibilities, she gives back to her community through regular church volunteering and Christmas charitable giving. For Jackie, meaningful success extends beyond professional accomplishments—it is reflected in the relationships people build and, above all, in how they make others feel.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Jackie
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the experiences, challenges, mentors, and people who have helped shape me throughout my career. My transition from health and safety to risk management taught me the importance of adaptability and willingness to learn. A great mentor (Kathleen Hurt) during my time at Williams-Sonoma also played an important role in helping me establish myself in the risk management field. My diverse educational background and willingness to continue developing new skills have also contributed to my success. Most importantly, I believe every challenge, setback, and experience has helped shape the professional and person I am today.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have received is to always have a positive attitude. When I feel discouraged, I try to turn negative situations into positive learning experiences. Every challenge, setback, and difficult experience can teach us something and ultimately contribute to our growth. Maintaining a positive perspective has helped me become more resilient and has allowed me to learn from every stage of my career.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would encourage young women entering risk management to believe in themselves, work hard, and never stop learning. It is important to approach problems comprehensively by considering all aspects, possibilities, and potential outcomes before making a decision. Risk management often requires you to speak up, challenge decisions, and ask difficult questions. Having confidence in your voice and in who you are is essential. I would encourage women to recognize the value of their perspectives and never be afraid to use their knowledge and experience to contribute to important decisions.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in risk management is helping organizational leaders recognize that risk management and claims analytics are more than simply business functions. They are strategic components of a successful organization and a necessity for building a world-class business. When leaders understand the value of risk data, claims insights, and proactive risk analysis, they can make more informed decisions, strengthen operational performance, protect employees and assets, and create a culture of continuous improvement. The true opportunity is to move risk management from a reactive support function to a strategic partner that helps shape the organization’s long-term success.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I believe in treating people with kindness and respect. Success is not only about accomplishments, titles, or professional achievements; to me. It is also about how you make people feel and the relationships you build along the way. The value I hold above all others is kindness. I believe the world needs more kindness, and I try to bring that principle into both my professional interactions and my personal life.
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